While that is certainly an overwhelming majority on the surface, it still may not represent the preferred option of all players around the league. USA Today's Sam Amick noted the voting process was not easy:

Lots of frustration about this process. With only team player reps allowed to vote, players who aren't reps who came feeling voice-less.

Roberts, an attorney at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, is the first woman to lead a players union in any of the four major North American sports leagues.

One of the final candidates she was able to beat out was Dallas Mavericks President and Chief Executive Officer Terdema Ussery. CBS Sports' Ken Berger noted a peculiar detail that worked against him, however:

One player rep says Mavs CEO Terdema Ussery was hurt by his strong ties with league. "Smart guy, but that killed him," he said.

Her practice focuses on complex civil and white collar criminal litigation before state and federal courts and in administrative proceedings. Ms. Roberts has tried more than 100 cases to jury verdicts, representing clients in a wide variety of areas, including products liability, white collar, racketeering, securities regulation violations, Title VII issues and premises liability.

Jeff Berman put it simply, applauding the decision by the Players Association:

Michele Roberts is one of the best lawyers in America. Brilliant, thoughtful, powerful. Great choice by NBAPA. http://t.co/Ta9h5n54tn